Report on Institutional Collaboration1. PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL VISITS

A task force comprising of industry experienced faculty, research professionals, and representatives of different Engineering disciplines was selected to visit different established universities in Ethiopia, and share their knowledge, and operational experience. The primary goals and objectives of the task force are as follows.

a. To share the experiences of different universities in the organization of internship programb. Understand the framework of institutional relationships: i.e, to understand the connections that the

universities have with other universities, institutions, and government and TVET organizations.c. Know the details of the curriculum, and the operational framework of the Master’s and Doctoral

programs in the area of computer science. d. Understand the current research activities that the universities are involved in, and know the framework

of research initiation and organization.

The following are the members of the task force.

1. Ato Mullugeta K Meriam2. Dr. Madhava Madireddy3. Mr. Ramesh Marella4. Ato Ayelle5. Ato Haile

6. Dr. Meenesh Ade7. Mrs. Swati Ade8. Mr. Anand Kumar Battina9. Ato Kedar

10. Ato Hasan11. Yanet

The task force itself has different teams and this report primarily consists of the activities of the team responsible for experience sharing in regards to institutional collaboration. The members of this sub-task force are :

1. Dr. Madhava Madireddy 2. Ramesh Marella

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE TASK FORCE

Five different universities were followed closely to understand the nature, structure and organization of the several institutional partnerships, both regional and international. The task force is primarily responsible to obtain the following sets of information from each of the established universities.

a. Collaborations with other established universities.b. Faculty Exchange programs and faculty sharing.c. Research collaborations with local and foreign universities.

(This is also a PRIMARY task for other Sub-Task Force-3)d. Collaborations with TVET organizations.e. Collaborations with local industries.f. Collaborations with the local community and the government. g. Understanding the procurement and maintenance of laboratory equipment for different engineering

disciplines. h. Learning the administrative procedures that are followed in governance of the institution. This is

primarily done for the following benefits to Dilla University Strengthening university administrative capacity, governance. Understanding the basic strategic planning, curriculum development and personnel

management Improving the organization of libraries Building English learning programs.

The following Universities were visited in the institutional trip.

1. Jimma Institute of Technology2. Addis Ababa Institute of Technology3. Addis Ababa Science and Technology University4. Adama Institute of Technology5. Hawassa Institute of Technology.

The task force have spoken to different coordinators of the following departments in each of the universities to share their experience. 1. Academic Vice President2. Industry Linkage office coordinator3. Research Office Coordinator / Academic Vice President for Research4. Laboratory Manager/ In Charge5. Heads of different engineering departments

3. EXPERIENCES SHARED BY DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES

3.1 JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY:

Met Dr. Berhan Belay, Senior Director for Research CBE & PG Studies

Jimma Institute of Technology is extremely actively in community based research in the areas of :

1. Rural electrification2. Water Resource projects like penstock (farmer’s idea)3. Wind Mills4. Mobilization of Cooperative sustainable energy project 5. Finding solutions for Micro Industries.

International Collaborations:

JIT is currently exchanging faculty and students with Beglium (5 universities). The faculty exchange program is 2 months long and the student exchange programs are 2 years and six months long and 32 students were involved in doing some sandwich programs. The faculty exchange program is primarily with universities based on Beglium.

Six staff members are sent to Germany for Ph.D. Three among them have already completed and the rest are currently pursuing their Ph.D.They also have dual degree program.

The JIT staff is involved in Research and laboratory training. JIT has good collaborations with Ghent University and Leuven University (in Belgium) for this training.

JIT is also seeking projects from European Union (E U) for Cook Stove Production with collaborations with Cornell University. University is also involved in active collaboration with Brown University, USA.

Their Curriculum is initially copied from Addis Ababa Institute of Technology. The curriculum is designed with the help of German faculty.

They have research programs in collaboration with Brazil and HongKong institutions.

There were several overseas projects initiated in the fields of rural and environmental water. Published people are encouraged to submit research proposals and will be financially supported by the university.

Collaborations with Other Institutions (National)

They have good collaborations with Addis Ababa Institute, which helped them develop their research base in their initial phases and they still exchange ideas and invite faculty from established national universities for guest lectures and experience sharing.

They have good collaborations with Hawassa University and Adama University for academic and administrative wings. A total of 500 Million ETB is the extent of the collaboration.

They are also building a workshop worth 300 Million ETB.

Collaborations with Government and TVET

They have collaboration with Ethiopian Road Authority and Ministry of Water Resource and Energy

They have good collaborations with TVET. The in charge for this TVET collaboration is Dr. Seid. The university also has a Farther Training Institute for updating knowledge of TVET staff.

They have internship programs in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Telecommunications and Ethiopian Electrical Power Corporation.

Research/ Community Collaborations:

Met Dr. A. Venkata Ramayya, Professor, Mechanical Engineering.

Contact Details: 919142891, ganikavenkata@gmail.com

Dr. Venkata Ramayya is highly renowned professor in JIT. He is an expatriate from India working in JIT for the last 12 years. He is actively involved in several research activities. Only Thematic research ( Multi-disciplinary) is encouraged by the universities as per the guidelines of the government. Individual research is not usually funded.

5 Projects were handed over to staff and students for community development. Sustainable Energy Construction of Big Culvert 4 Hydro Water mills (with the help of local farmers), 2 projects completed, 2 are in execution phase. Small power plant development Automated Injeera Baking machine (developed with the help of a student). It can produce 8 Injeeras per

minute. The cost of the machine is 3000 ETB. Biomass Meat Cutter production ( with a capacity of 200 Kg/ hr) Wood Chipper

Met Ato Balewgize A. Zeru, Coordinator, University & Industrial Linkage.

Contact Details:Ph: 917804326 uil.techtransfer@gmail.com

Community Based Projects Initiation/ Implementation: Students identify the problem faced by the community, they present a technical solution and

make a proposal fro research through a presentation. JIT faculty and research team makes a decision based on the usefulness of the project.

Experience Sharing in Adminstrative/ Academic Organization

JIT has extensive staff capacity building program which enables them to hire staff for teaching, and non-teaching purposes, technical assistance and staff training. Their Human Resource team works closely with the Engineering Capacity Building Program and does the needful from time to time.

Met Ato Efrem Wakjia, Director, HR.

Contact: 917807266, efremwak@yahoo.com

He is actively involved in development of several laboratories and infrastructure at JIT. He has been with the university and worked with JIT since its inception and is currently developing the Biggest Library in Ethiopia, equipped with Closed Circuit Cameras and have capacity for 1500 students at any given time and functions round the clock.

3.2 ADDIS ABABA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (AAIT)

Met Young Kyun Kim, Scientific Director, who gave us a ppt presentation of AIT activites related to research and academics. Dr. Kun joined in 1964 as Faculty of Technology, Addis Ababa University

Met Dr. Eshetie Berhan, Research Technology Transfer & Industry Linkage

Contact Details: 912632735Tel: 111232439, Fax: 111239480, eshietie_ethio@yahoo.com

AAIT Staff and Student Capacity:

• 5500+ UG students

• 4500 PG students (M.Sc. and PhD)

• 400 Faculty (Prof., Assc., Asst. Prof., Lectr. Asst. Lect)

• 600 Admin and Support Staffs

AAIT Research Structure is unique in Ethiopa and is very effective. Following this structure should be very useful for developing universities such as Dilla.

They have collaborations with Mekele, Bahardar and Jimma. They are extending services in establishing internship and research activities for the above universities. They shoot for 100% internship.

AAIT is responsible for educating most of Instructors for regional universities in Ethiopia, especially close to Addis Ababa.

They have collaborations with Korea, Germany, Italy, USA and IIT, New Delhi with regard to M.Sc Programs in GeoTechnology. They organize video conferences for their students.

Faculty Exchange and Sharing:

AIT invites staff from Germany and USA to organize seminars and organize workshops. The seek help from the Ministry of Education to organize these

Research Collaborations and Projects: Basic research is not encouraged, only thematic research is encouraged in AIT as well. AIT is currently active in the following research fields.

Bio Mass Energy Production Producing LPG from Coffee husk 51 MW Wind Farm at Adama

Energy Generation Project from Biomass (LPG from coffee husk) Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Industry Collaborations:

In Collaboration with AAiT, SAMSUNG has established an Engineering Academy,SAMSUNG Engineering Academy (SEA), which is geared towards providing practical skills to AAiT students. The SEA will also provide research facilities for IT convergence related researches in AAiT.

International Collaborations:

AAIT has research and academic collaborations with the following institutions worldwide.

CIVIL and ENVIRONMENTAL

• University of Connecticut, USA • IGNIS Project , Germany• KTH , Sweden• South West Jiao tang University,

China, • University of Mississippi, USA

•• University of Stuttgart, Germany• University of Jordan, Jordan• Turkish Railway Construction

Co.,Turkey • New Mexico State University , USA

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Aalto University, Finland South West Jiao tang University, University of Turku , Finland

New Mexico State University , USA University of Michigan, USA

MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENINGEERING

• National Taiwan University of Sci. and Tech., Taiwan

• University of Toronto, Canada-• University of Michigan, USA• Politechnico di Torino , Italy• Ritsumeikan University , Japan

• University of Clement, France / • University of Pavia &University of

Bologna, Italy• University of Nairobi , Kenya• University of Sokoine, Tanzania

Laboratory and Workshops in AAIT

AAIT has state of art laboratories for engineering and work as a basis for technical and practical learning for its staff and students. Some of the labs are used for research projects by the university staff and also for the external faculty members from other institutions. The core competence labs are as follows:

• Civil Infrastructure• Energy Technology• Water and Environment

• Food Technology• Convergence Technology• Machine Components Design

However, AAIT has problems associated with technical lab assistants. The lab technicians are not provided ample career advancement opportunities. Hence hiring new technical staff is an incessant challenge faced by the HR department at AAIT.

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories:

• Met Ato Endalkachew, Laboratory In Charge, AAIT.

Contact: 0911743909

He has been working with AAIT for 3 years and he previously studied in Italy. He has been the chief trainer for material testing laboratory, installation and maintenance for the technical staff. He is going to visit Dilla University during the installation phase of the lab equipment and train the technical staff with the laboratory manuals, handling and operations.

The basic laboratories and workshop are as follows:

• Materials Lab • MicroStructures Lab (Triology)• Metereology (Linear

Measurement)• TurboMachinery Lab

• Instrumentation and Mechatronics

• Mechanisms Laboratory• Thermal Labs with Refrigeration

and Air Conditioning

Workshops:

AAIT has the following workshops in Mechanical Engineering Dept.

• Machine Shop • Welding • Forging • Carpentry

AAIT has lathe machines that are about 40 years old and they are slowly being replaced by new machines. The foundry, carpentry and metal workshops seem old, but are in working condition. AAIT has a huge space problem and they cannot install several of their newly procured machinery due to space constraints.

Mechanical Engineering Research:

There are five sub-streams in mechanical engineering research at AAIT. They are :

• Mechanical Design• Thermall• Industrial

• Motor Vehicle• Railway

Ph.D Programs at AAIT:

AAIT offers several Ph.D programs in almost all of its Engineering Disciplines. Staff from several other universities come here to pursue their Ph.D programs since AAIT is well equipped with qualified advisors and laboratory equipments for experimental research. The Ph.D programs are currently being offered in following disciplines.

Structural Eng’g Geotechnical Eng’g Hydraulics Eng’g Industrial Eng’g Thermal Eng’g Mechanical Design

Communication Eng’g Computer Eng’g Process Eng’g Food Eng’g Environmental Eng’g

Staff Capacity Building Program at AAIT

• At AAIT, the graduated Ph.Ds become staff members and are entitled to teach and organize research for the university.

• The university also hires lot of visiting professors and contract based expatriate staff. • University employs advisors for its PhD students and the students sometimes visit the advisor or

undertake experiemental research in another country for a maximum period of 4 months. • Faculty Exchange Programs are made possible through communicating with a known reference in

the university. Guest lectures are also initiated by submission of CV and the contents of the lecture. These are usually delivered as block courses.

Met with Ato Desta Lemma, Industry Linkage Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering Dept.

The list of industries with which the AAIT collaborates can be obtained from someone working in the Minsitry of Education. This can be useful for initiation of internship program by establishing a basic framework or memorandum of understanding with different national industries.

Fasil: fasil_wgebriel@yahoo.com

A sample copy of industrial internship report is obtained in this office. The problems faced during the internship by the staff, students and the university are discussed. (See Report from Other Sub-Task Force)

3.3 ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSTIY (AASTU) This is a newly established university, just an year and half ago. They have six PG programs. This is one of the only two Science and Technology universities in Ethiopia. The other one is in Adama. They have four different vice presidents for 1. Academic VP2. Research VP3. Industrial Linkage VP4. Administrative VP

This structure is unique to AASTU. All the Vice Presidents report to the president and they operate independently.

Industry Collaborations:

AASTU collaborate extensively with industries in its vicinity. AASTU is in the outskirts of Addis and several industries are being constructed nearer to the campus. AASTU has a separate office for Industrial Linkages and they secure internships and funded research projects from the industries.

The industries established a MOU with AASTU and they usually request AASTU to solve their technical problems. AASTU secures most of its funds through this consultancy projects with local industries.

Staff and Faculty Training:

AASTU attaches each of its faculty members (who are light in their workload in that semester) to a particular industry. This enables the staff to develop technical expertise and later secure projects for the university. This active learning of the staff develops a strong trust between the industry and the university. This rapport is quite appreciably and a lot of MOUs are being signed with different industries on a regular basis.

Research Collaborations:

AASTU does not conduct any innovative research, but most of the projects involve problem solving for the local industries. No independent research is encouraged for any staff. The staff will be working with the industry and this helps them advance their career and their rank in the university.

3.4 ADAMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

This is a newly established, but quickly growing university. Most of the infrastructure is being developed now and there can be a lot of learning that can be imported from their experiences.

• Met with Tarekegn Tadesse (Ph.D), President, Adama University• Met with Nurelegne Tefera, Vice President, Academic Affairs.• Met with Zeleke Ewnetu, Vice President, Institutional Affairs and International Relations.

Research Collaborations

Adama Institute of Technology (AIT) encourages applied research in all its engineering disciplines. There are currently six engineering schools: Civil, COTM, Mechanical, Energy, Chemical and Computer Science. Adama is currently seeking partnerships with foreign and national universities to kick-start their research programmes.

International Collaborations:

They had collaborations with Korea no (and previously with Germany) for research and technology transfer. They have developed unique laboratory for Material Engineering, unique in Ethiopia that could facilitate service for industries in near future.

Laboratory Facilities:

Most of the laboratories are in their initiation phase still. But the mechanical engineering laboratories could be finished within two years. 70-80% of these labs are already constructed and installed.

Institutional Collaborations:

AIT collaborates currently with AAIT and Jimma in organizing its research. Several of its faculty are trained by the staff from AAIT.

Some foreign collaboration are also going to be initiated in the near future for AIT.

(See the Brouchure)

International Collaborations:

(See Brouchure)

Administrative Issues:

AIT organizes English Language proficiency for its staff members. This could come in very handy for Dilla University staff as well.

Resources Requested for Establishment of Technology Industry Linkage Office (TILO)

Respected sir,

Based on the experience shared by visiting five different established universities, the task force recommends the following resources to be obtained as early as possible for the establishment of Technology Industry Linkage Office.

HUMAN RESOURCES

a. It is necessary to have one administrative full time professional working for TILO. His duties comprise of communicating with the industries, following up on the student requests and organizing paper-work for the internship program for all the students. Since we believe this is a monumental challenge, we need a full-time employee who is 1. Good with communication (in Amharic and some English)2. Motivated and patient. 3. Able to build inter-personal relationships and trust.

b. We also will need an office assistant who is in charge of maintenance of office equipment and supplies. In addition, he is also responsible for organizing industrial tour transport, taking care of second level paper-work and other simple assistant duties to the above mentioned full-time employee.

OFFICE Requirements:

a. Basic Furniture (Tables, chairs, etc)b. 2 Computers with internet accessc. Fax Machined. Telephonee. Access to a vehicle (for visiting different industries, bringing in industrial experts, etc)

We kindly request you to expedite this process of office establishment and manpower recruitment. We are willing to conduct interviews for the fore-mentioned positions. We suggest you place an advertisement in a newspaper for these two positions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Madhava Madireddy, Technology Industry Linkage Office, College of Engineering and Technology, Dilla University.

.

To: Academic Committee, College of Engineering and Technology, Dilla University.

SUB: Action Plan on Institutional Collaboration

The first and the foremost aspect of institutional collaboration should be research based. For this purpose, identifying the relevant research opportunities elsewhere and approaching the foreign/ local institutions for collaborations are of the primary significance. The approach with which this needs to be done is presented below.

1. Identify Research Opportunities

The first task is to identify research opportunities. This needs to be done at the individual level. For example, anyone in Civil or Mechanical Engineering can be interested in a research project related to environment if it matches their interests. For the faculty members, I suggest referring to the following universities:

Ghent University, Belgium...which offers extensive collaboration with foreign universities. Leuven University, Belgium...does active research in the field of sustainable energy. Flemish Institute of Technological Research... Offers projects on energy conservation, solar

power, sustainable energy, vehicular emissions, and transport modelling. IITs in India offer extensive research opportunities in the fields of Civil Engineering, Structural

Engineering, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. IISC Bangalore is a totally research institute focused on developing new ideas for engineering

research. Other institutes exist in Universities in Germany and UK.

2. Write collaboration proposals

Approaching the institute/ institution is the next step. For this purpose, the staff needs to be adequately sufficient in English and in Technical Report Writing. Grammar and presentation of the report shows how professional you are. So, the staff needs to be aware and should be motivated to train themselves in English and communicate effectively with foreign researchers.

For this purpose, the staff needs to get familiar with the accents and connotations of the European and American people. Hence, I have given IELTS material, which could be now available in the Technology Library. The staff who are willing to improve their communicative ability with foreign people are encouraged to borrow these IELTS material from the library and improve their English writing, reading, listening and speaking skills.

3. Academic Aspects of Collaboration:

The other forms of institutional collaboration involve administrative, academic and learning from the established universities in organizing an academic curriculum. I strongly encourage the department coordinators to identify the courses offered by well established universities, the sequence in which the lab courses are offered in conjunction with the theory courses, and try to identify the missing and relevant aspects and bring them to the notice of the Academic Committee. Organizing examinations is also a task that needs to be duplicated from the well established universities, especially in India or in United States.

TIME LINE:

Task 1 : Needs to be immediately put into action. All the staff needs to come up with the relevant institutions that do research in their fields of interests. As a challenge, each staff member can submit a list of potential research collaborations, either in Ethiopia or in the rest of the world. This can be done within 2 weeks. As a guide, the staff can start with the fore-mentioned institutions.

Task 2: This is simply a self-improvement for communication, and this needs to be done by individual motivation to write better proposals and communicate effectively.

Task-3: This can be given more time till the end of this semester, since identifying the curriculum details and the administrative structure needs more time to learn and implement.

Sincerely,

Dr. Madhava Madireddy, Coordinator, Office of Institutional Collaboration, Technology Industry Linkage office, School of Technology, Dilla University.